Page 56 of Eternal Ruin
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Foodborne Parasitesby Anton Goro
From Roots to Leavesby Wadu Rojit
Introduction to Dranactiby Demasus and the Last Sage
June started her afternoon with her lab first, eager to try the new herbs she’d mixed for healing a scar. She also needed to get sauag leaves for Samson’s injured hand. The black rot would cause him pain, the most at night. He only listened to her while she was treating him. She had to keep Samson calm, remind him what was really important.
Secure the mask artifact.
You can never hold an artifact bound to a law.
It was June’s first lesson, drilled into her almost daily afterward. Like her, Kidan couldn’t touch any of the artifacts. June winced, trying not to think of her sister. She’d excelled at it the past year. Sometimes, she let herself forget, wish for useless things. But her nightmares always reminded her there was no going back.
The golden ribbon returned. It reflected on the sun-speckled floor of her lab. Someone across the building was sitting on the roof… watching her.
Warde had shut his eyes in the seat opposite her. There was still no real threat. If there was, Warde would have been alert.
June frowned and continued working on her concoction.
She never kept time and absolutely hated clocks. So it wasn’t surprising that only the golden glow of the setting sun told her how late she was for Introduction to Dranacti.
“Warde!” she exclaimed, setting down her mixing bowl. “I need to go.”
He opened his eyes and stood without complaint.
You should wear a watch, Warde said.
I’ll get one when you try my doughnuts, June responded in her mind.
Mot Zebeyas don’t indulge in sweet treats.
June bottled her concoctions, hurried to take off her lab coat, grabbed her bag, and closed the door behind them. Halfway down the hall, June turned her head toward the large window, catching a glimpse of the figure in movement. They were lightning fast. Definitely a vampire. Her heart thrummed. Samson wouldn’t like how careless she was being. This wasn’t their old home, and they had many enemies here.
But she’d deal with it later.
June rushed across the courtyard and slipped into the ominous Philosophy Tower. She was the last to arrive. She navigated through nervous students who all appeared on the verge of vomiting or tears and sat in the last row, tucking her curling braids behind her ear repeatedly.
“Scales of Sovane.” The professor’s ancient voice drifted. “What have you discovered about Prince Ezariah?”
June crossed her arms on the desk, nestled her head on them. Her eyes were beginning to… shut.
No, no.
The classroom was fading around her, turning green, a wide rolling field with a stone pillar—she was leaving this world, entering another one—
“June Adane,” the professor barked.
June shot upright as if electrocuted. Her large eyes took in the room of gawking students, and her shoulders shifted inward, chin tucked close to her chest, eyes falling to the desk.
Had she fallen asleep?
God, no.
“Am I boring you?” Professor Andreyas’s voice sliced like shards of ice.
She shook her head so violently her curling braids wrapped around her panicked face like a scarf.
